People v. Valdez
Annotate this CaseA jury convicted Defendant Richard Valdez of five counts of first degree murder. As to each count, the jury found true special circumstance allegations of multiple murder and gang and weapon enhancement allegations. The evidence presented at trial established that Defendant was a member of the Sangra street gang. The jury returned a verdict of death as to each of the victims. The trial court denied the automatic application to modify the verdict and sentenced Defendant to death for the five murders. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding, among other things, that Defendant's claims alleging numerous errors in connection with protective orders the trial court issued delaying and limiting disclosure of the identities of certain prosecution witnesses failed, and that the trial judge did not prejudicially err in refusing to declare a mistrial after the jurors declared they were at an impasse and could not reach a unanimous verdict on any count.
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